Delaware Coastal Programs, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Rutgers’ Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory
Inventory of Types GIS Analysis in Areas of Interest Selection of Potential Project Sites Field Reconnaissance Conceptual Plans
DK
Estuary Areas of Interest (AOI) NJ AOIs- Dodge Grant PA AOIs- Sunoco Grant DE AOIs- DE Coastal Program Grant
GIS Analysis
Completed July 2011
Combined GIS layers that contain info matching 1ST order criteria Physical and chemical metrics were mapped within AOI’s: ◦ Fetch and potential boat traffic as proxies for wave energy ◦ Shore morphology ◦ Substrate type ◦ Salinity regimes
Site Reconnaissance Underway in 3 States
Site Assessment Report Completed December 2011 Includes: •Most suitable sites ranked •Contour maps •Vegetation and substrate maps •Energy analysis- fetch, boat wake, etc. •Shoreline erosion/stability
#1 Ranked DE LS Site: Murderkill River
Murderkill 1: Vegetation and Contour
Contour Map Interval- 0.3m
MLW
Murderkill 2: Vegetation and Contour
Contour Map Interval- 0.3m
MLW
Murderkill 3: Vegetation and Contour
Contour Map Interval- 0.3m
MLW
Murderkill Murderkill Sites Sites
SiteSite 1 1
Site 2 Site 2 Site 3 Site 3
Energy and Erosion Characteristics Landscape Condition
Average Water Salinity Shoreline Shoreline Mussels/ Depth (PPT)Erosion Surrounding Slope Features/ Oysters Vegetation Substrate AverageDevelopment Fetch (channel) USGS Score Boat Wake Alterations Present (miles) –USGS [-1 gauge (4 gauge yr min (eroding), 0 (feet) and max) (stable),+1 Several Spartina Soft Mud- marinas Docks/ (accreting)] 25% Mussels High boat alterniflora walkable behind and Marina wake/ near 0.07 10-12 16 - 23.3 0 on both sides marina High boat Spartina Soft Mud- 0.07 Marina to 10-12 wake/ near - 23.3 -1 29% 16Near dock Mussels alterniflora east marinawalkable Medium Mussel/ Spartina Soft Mudboat wake/ 0.07 10-1220% 16None - 23.3 +1 None Oysters alterniflora walkable near marina
Contour Interval- 0.3m
Scotton Landing
Scotton Landing: Vegetation and Contour
Contour Interval- 0.3m
Scotton Landing- Substrate
Blackbird Creek: Vegetation and Contour
Contour Interval- 0.3m
Blackbird Creek- Substrate
The Rocks: Vegetation and Contour
Contour Interval- 0.3m
The Rocks- Substrate
New Castle
Leipsic
Appoquinimink
Initial Living Shoreline Ideas: •Hybrid living shoreline •Expanded oyster reefs (subtidal) •Mussel plant augmentation (intertidal)
Next Steps: Conceptual Plans- Compendium of LS projects within AOIs and preliminary plans for 2-5 pilots by 2/28 Partners wanted-
Thank you to DCP, Josh Moody for GIS, and Mike Messinger for boating us around!